A group of around 50 teenagers forced their way into a Church of Scientology building in New York City on Saturday afternoon, damaging property and injuring a security guard, according to police and church officials.The incident happened at about 4.24 pm at the Church of Scientology of New York on West 46th Street, near Times Square. Parishioners and visitors were attending a seminar inside when the group entered through a locked side door.“A group of individuals forced their way into the Church of Scientology New York, broke a locked door to gain entry, and rushed into the building,” the church said in a statement.During the disturbance, a 30-year-old man believed to be a security guard was kicked and suffered minor injuries to his leg. The teens also hurled a racial slur at a staff member, the church said.“The disruption endangered staff, parishioners and visitors, including individuals attending a seminar at the time. This was not a peaceful visit or lawful protested. It was a coordinated act involving forced entry, property damage, and physical aggression inside a house of worship.”Police said the group fled in different directions and no arrests have been made so far. The investigation is ongoing, and the church said it is cooperating with the New York Police Department.Officials said the incident appears linked to a growing social media trend known as “Scientology speed running,” in which groups film themselves entering Scientology properties for online attention.“Some online have referred to these incidents as ‘speed running.’ In reality, they involve organized trespasses into religious and public information facilities for social media attention,” the Church of Scientology International said in a statement.Similar incidents have also been reported in Los Angeles, where police say they are monitoring the trend after receiving multiple calls to Scientology buildings. Some cases are being investigated as possible hate crimes depending on what participants said or did.In Hollywood, a Scientology building removed its door handles and restricted public entry after repeated disruptions. Videos posted on platforms like TikTok and Instagram show participants recording themselves running through Scientology buildings while being chased by staff and security.The church said participants have “repeatedly forced their way into Church properties on Hollywood Boulevard, disrupted religious and public facilities, damaged Church property, and endangered staff, parishioners and visitors,” as quoted by NBC.The church also referred to a “large-scale incident” in Hollywood, where dozens of people entered the L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibition and a public information center without permission. Staff members were knocked down during the chaos.Police said at least two suspects from that incident are wanted on suspicion of burglary and felony vandalism. Officers filed reports for vandalism and battery with a hate crime involved.“Church facilities are peaceful spaces designed to welcome parishioners, visitors and members of the public,” the statement said. “Turning them into targets for viral stunts is not journalism, protest or civic activity. It is trespass, harassment, and disruption of religious spaces. The Church welcomes lawful visitors. It does not welcome individuals forcing entry, damaging property … or targeting religious facilities for online attention.”The church said it is documenting all incidents and taking additional security measures.“The Church welcomes lawful visitors,” its statement said. “It does not welcome mobs forcing entry, damaging property, disrupting religious spaces or endangering people for views.”
